Father Geek here in Austin, Texas at the Geek Headquarters Compound with another mid-work-week edition of our Manga-Anime column for you, annnnd as is usual we've got everything you could possibilily want to know about the wide world of Anime crammed into one location for those of you unable to surf all over the web for the info. Soooooo sit back and prepare to feast your eyes on...

THE AICN ANIME REPORT...

By Scott Green

Anime Spotlight: His and Her Circumstances Volume 2: Love and War under the Cherry Blossoms

Released by The Right Stuf International

His and Her Circumstances gained notoriety because it was the follow up to Evangelion, from Evangelion's studio, Gainax, and it's creator/director Hideaki Anno. It's a shoujo series (aimed a female, typically young/teenage audience), and shoujo has been slow to catch on in the US, mostly because its been seen as a non-sci-fi, giant robot, action, gamble by domestic companies, but it's now really catching fire. Most, if not all notable experimental ventures into the genre have succeeded, Thanks to its excellence in emotional portrayal and animation, His and Her Circumstances has become the yardstick which shoujo series are measure against.

Volume 2 picks up with the high school relationship between Yukino, a girl whose addiction to praise has driven her to excel academically and socially at the expense of all other aspects of live, and Arima, a boy who effortlessly outshines all others in every endeavor, but has failed to form any meaningful relationships. With their romance cemented, volume 2 mostly deals with the consequences. Yukino in particular, who was frantically treading water with constant exertion, suffers severe academic and social blowback from administrators who view the shift in attention as a waste of potential, and peers who see the hollowness of her past kindness and interest. When the dust settles, the new, marginally settled, state is one that would surprise all involved.

Like many shoujo series His and Her Circumstances mixes comedy, and drama, and with tendencies to the extremes. Characters and actions are always given enough traits to be recognizable human and relatable, and more unusual, no traits disqualify them from being relatable. No one is too-damaged, too-strange, or reacts too-oddly to make you think twice before recognizing them. There is a character for everyone to identify as themselves, or someone they know/knew well.

Nor do the situations break believability. Most have occurred in most people's lives. It doesn't hammer viewers with its messages. For example, there are some thematic overlaps with GTO, particularly the conversation about the trade-off between seeking defined academic success, and developing personal relationships, and talents. GTO hits the issue with a sledgehammer, which is the appeal of that series, but His and Her Circumstances arrives at its conclusion without straw man villains or overblown speeches.

While the drama comes from the human center to the characters, the comedy comes from there extreme edges; mundane things scaled to ground cracking proportions: Yukino's Tasmanian Devil rage, a jealous girl who physics attack Yukino on sight, her parents' reacting to a parent teacher conference request by reminiscing about their wild day and planning an armed reaction, or an inspired Totoro ditch the runt of the group prank.

Aside from the fact that His and Her Circumstance is a youth drama on par, or better than Freaks and Geeks, My So Called Life, or the best domestic examples of the genre, the selling point of anime is that it can capture visuals that even in these days of the Matrix, the Star Wars prequels and the new round of super hero movies, are prohibitively expense to produce. A response to this sentiment who by "then my bother with animating dramas?" In some cases, there isn't much of a justification. Maison Ikkuku is well constructed soap opera story, but other than being based on Rumiko Takahashi manga (comic) a certain look is expected, it doesn't benefit much from the choice of medium. Conversely, Gainax strengths the abilities for all they're worth.

Between the cinematic marvel that is Wings of Honneamise, the brutally effective Evangelion, and the pop energy of FLCL, Gainax's animation work has seen many peaks. His and Her Circumstances is on par with their best effects. There's an energy like its at the inception of medium, with open opportunity to try find the boundaries. They aren't the first to incorporate symbolism, or step through though processes, or do character design deformatities, but their balance of the extreme magnitude, and an unjarring naturalness makes it something unique.

It needs repeating (from the last review) that the length's Right Stuf has gone to perfect the release of this series are amazing. The amount to text the screen must have presented an a staggering challenge, and it is one that Right Stuf met with outstanding success. The DVD allows the use the choice of language track, subtitles, and whether to translate screen text. Their translation not only matches the color of the text and position of the text, but in some case its motion in an attractive and natural way.

Manga Spotlight: Banana Fish Volume 1

Story and Art by Akimi Yoshida Released by Viz's Pulp label

Banana Fish is a rare strange bird, an expansive gang saga, lasting 10 years and 3,400 pages in Japanese release, unflinching in its brutality, a best seller, and, oddest of all, originally targeted for teenage girls.

In 1973, in Dong Tham, Vietnam, a soldier goes mad and fire at his comrades until his friend shoots out his legs. Before entering a non-responsive state he says the words "Banana Fish". In 1985 New York, Ash Lynx, the younger brother of that soldier has become an Alexander the Great of the world of street games, an attractive, charismatic, and stunningly intelligent who has begun unifying games and infecting them with his own code of conduct.

Akimi Yosisha is quick to populate an amazingly complex world. It is a complex New York, with many division created by history, law, race, nationality, and class, and a war that will span the strata from street gangs, to wealthy organized crime to journalists, to the police, to politicians.

Yaoi, homosexual male romance typically for a female audience is an important aspect of the series' appeal. There are strong, but non-graphic, current of molestation, and relationships written to turn stomachs, but there is also a foundation of a romantic relationship between Ash, and a young, Japanese, male, assistant reporter.

It's probably a safe assumption, or universal truth that no heterosexual member of one gender gets why the opposite gender is turned on by homosexual relationships with their own (see recent controversy with beer commercial cat fight, not quite the same thing, but there's probably some neural link involved).

Every speaking character in the volume is male, many drawn in an attractive, fashionable manner. Suffice to say, many female readers have expressed great enjoyment in this aspect of the series, if you are a guy, and this doesn't sound like your cup of tea, be aware than it is not overwhelming, and as a no hold barred, urban epic, it holds it own against The Shield, or any other competition. Maybe it's closer to Oz, because there is a large leap to be plausibility, and come across as artificial constructs but the characters, and their interactions keep you guessing, until you're addicted to finding out what happens next.

This Week's Releases

Anime

• All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku
• Animated Classics Of Japan Literature - The Izu Dancer
• Animated Classics Of Japanese Literature - Botchan
• Animated Classics Of Japanese Literature - The Harp Of Burma
• Chance Pop Sessions - Session 2
• Dna2 - Metamorphosis
• Gigantor - Boxed Set 2 (Episodes 27-52)
• Dragon Ball Z:Androids Box Set
• Patlabor - The Mobile Police, The Tv Series (Vol. 4)
• Patlabor Mobile Police Tv Series 1-4
• Project Arms - Eyes Of Flame (Vol. 3)
• Ranma 1/2 - Ranma Forever - Wretched Rice Cakes Of Love (Vol. 5)

Manga

• Big O Part 3 #4 (Of 4)
• Cardcaptor Sakura Master Of The Clow Vol 3 Gn (Of 6)
• Chobits Vol 4 Gn (Of 7)
• Club 9 Tp
• Dragon Knights Vol 6 Gn (Of 17)
• Inu Yasha Part 7 #7 (Of 8)
• Legendary Couple Gn #3
• Lupin Iii Vol 2 Gn
• Marmalade Boy Vol 5 Gn (Of 8)
• Onegai Teacher Gn #1
• Princess Prince Book 1 Gn
• Project Arms Part 1 #6 (Of 16)
• Raijin Comics #10 (Mr)
• Rave Vol 1 Gn (Res
• Real Bout High School Vol 5 Gn
• Rga Magazine #10
• Shaolin Sisters Vol 1 Gn (Of 5)
• Skull Man Vol 5 Gn (Of 7)
• Storm Riders Gn #9
• Vagabond #16

Spirited Away Up For Oscar

Incase you haven't seen the new elsewhere, Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away has been nominated for the Best Animated Feature Academy Award along side Lilo & Stich, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and Treasure Planet.

The Japanese "Mt. Head" was nominated for Best Animated Short Film with The Chubbchubbs, Das Rad, Katedra and Mike's New Car.

CLAMP Announces New Series

Natsume Maya reports popular manga team CLAMP have announced a new manga series xxxHolic. (Its unclear whether the xxx is a mistranslation of something else) There is some talk to this will be another shounen (boy's) series for the group, who are better known as working with in shoujo, but have risqué proclivities (see Miyuki-chan).

AniMatrix DVD Details

The complex collection of AniMatrix short animated features based on the Matrix will be released on DVD and VHs.

The collection will include:

The Final Flight of the Osiris

Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Andy Jones

Animation and production design by Square USA, Inc. The crew of the hovercraft Osiris must get a message back to Zion, a message of vital importance. Easy to do, but for the armada of Sentinels between them and Zion.

The Second Renaissance - Parts 1 and 2

Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Mahiro Maeda

Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo The Genesis of the Matrix: the last cities of mankind, the war with the machines, and humanity's ultimate downfall. An epic guided tour of the Zion archives and the history of the Matrix.

Kid's Story

Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe

Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo Sitting in his high school classroom, THE KID gets a personalized invitation from Neo (voiced by Keanu Reeves) to escape the Matrix. But finding an exit proves more difficult than he ever imagined.

Program

Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Animation and production design by Madhouse Studios, Tokyo In the simulated world of a Samurai training program, CIS, a soldier of Zion, is forced to choose between love and her comrades in the real world.

World Record

Written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri; Directed by Takeshi Koike

Animation and production design by Madhouse Studios, Tokyo Through an incredible combination of will power and physical strength, DAN, a world-record-holding sprinter, breaks out of the Matrix and gets an all-too-brief glimpse of the real world beyond.

Beyond

Written and directed by Koji Morimoto

Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo In a quiet town where all is not as it seems, YOKO finds a bug in the system: an abandoned mansion in which anything seems possible. And then the exterminators arrive to "de-bug".

Detective Story

Written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe

Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo Hard-boiled private investigator ASH tracks cyber-criminal TRINITY (voiced by Carrie-Anne Moss) through the looking glass.

Matriculated

Written and directed by Peter Chung

Animation and production design by DNA, Seoul A small group of rebels have captured a sentient robot and proceed to program it to act as an ally for their cause. They succeed too well in teaching the robot to prefer their "human Matrix" to machine reality. And the robot's appetite for the "human Matrix" may exceed the humans' ability to supply it.

Toonami Goes Back to Two Hours

Cartoon Network's Toonami block is back at two hours until March. In March Yu-Yu Hakusho will be moved from Adult Swim, to be replaced by a returning Inu-Yash. Trigun will be joining Adult Swim in April.

Viz Changes Distributors

Anime on DVD reports Viz will be leaving Pioneer Distribution as the video distributor in favor of Venture Distributions. After March 2003 Pioneer will no longer accent returns of Viz products.

You're Under Arrest Release

AnimEigo will be releasing the first three volumes of the You're Under Arrest TV series as individual volumes, and as box set. You're Under Arrest in a series that oscillates between comedy and drama as it follows the lives of a pair of mismatched traffic cops.

Another Returning Anime Portal

Anime Pitstop has returned after a two year absence with the same interface, but a new search engine.

February Anime Periodicals

The February AnimeFringe features a look at the various incarnation of Battle Royale, the fallout from last month's contraversial editiorial on review Manga Entertainment releases, and reviews which include Chance Pop Session, Excel Saga, Armitage III: OAV, Digi Charat, Blood: The Last Vampire 2002, and Even a Monkey and Draw Manga amoung others.

The anime/manga port of the new Sequential Tart a look at cyborg related series, a close examination of the first volume of Gasaraki, and anime and manga reviews.

Box Sets

Bandai has announced plans to release DVD boxed sets for culturally minded space epic Crest of the Stars and space action Angel Links (a tangent to the better known Outlaw Star) on June 17th, at a discounted price of $49.98 each.

Pioneer will be releasing the four volume horror action Hellsing in a box set on April 8th for $124.98 .

Speed Racer on DVD

Family Home Entertainment will be releasing Speed Racer Limited Edition Vol. 1 with the first 11 episodes of the series on April 22nd.

.Hack on Cartoon Network

From the press release: Japanese animated series .hack//SIGN joined Cartoon Network's Saturday lineup of action/adventure programming starting Saturday, February 1 at 3 p.m. (ET, PT).

.hack//SIGN, which was spawned by some of the most creative minds in animé, will move to Saturday night at 12 midnight starting Saturday, March 2. It helps anchor Cartoon Network's revamped Saturday prime time lineup, which will also include other top action/animé series like Justice League, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, G Gundam and DragonBall.

.hack//SIGN (typically referred to as "dot hack") explores the issues of what happens when the real world and virtual reality collide. In .hack//SIGN, "The World" is an immersive virtual gaming environment of the future. Millions of players log on each day to test their skill in virtual adventures and battles. But when "The World" combines with their world, a whole new adventure unfolds.

.hack//SIGN includes character designs by famed illustrator Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, who has worked on Neon Genesis Evangelion and Wings of the Honneamise. The engaging story was scripted by Kazunori Ito, well-known by animé aficionados for his work on Ghost in the Shell and Patlabor. .hack//SIGN was directed by Kouichi Mashimo (Noir and Irresponsible Captain Taylor).

Japanese Publishers to Produce "rental" Graphic Novels

According to Anime News Network Kodansha, Shogakugan and several other Japanese publishing houses have announced that, starting in 2004, they will publish Manga paperbacks for rental use. They aim to develop a new system that will enable major rental outlets to cooperate with publishers and copyright holders, readers to rent the product. They also aim to convince the Ministry of Economy and Industry and The Cultural Division to amend the copyright laws to give a certain amount of control over this rental industry to the copyright holders and publishers.

The publishers aim to have the law ammended in such ways that will give then authority over the manner in which their publications can be rented out, possibly making it illegal to rent out "non-rental" copies. They also aim to make it so that they can require a share of the profit from rentals (in the same way that broadcasters must pay a fee every time they air a song on the radio). Most paperbacks would be published in two formats, "rental" and "non-rental."

See here for more information.

Merchandise and Game News

Toycom's upcoming releases include 6" figures of the cast of Lupin III, 4" Kenshin, Berserk and Love Hina mini figures, and something based on cyberpunk manga Blame.

Figures.com has images of the Jin Roh The Stray Dog Kerberos Panzer Cop International Versions figure, Dark Horse's Dirty Pair, and repaints of the figures based on Masamune Shirow's Appleseed

Pioneer is scheduled to release sound tracks of Ah! My Goddess: The Movie and Lupin III on April 8th.

NAtsume Maya reports GAiNAX's PC game Shin Seiki Evangelion Koutetsu no Girlfriend 2nd is to be released at the end of April 2003. This game will be set in the alternate universe of episode 26 of the TV series, where Rei is a transfer student and Misato a teacher. Price will be 8,800 yen.

From The Magic Box Bandai announced they are working on a new PlayStation 2 RPG based on the classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, the game will be released by the end of the year.

Konami announced a new GameBoy Advance RPG called GetBackers: Capital Recapture Battle, based on the hit anime GetBackers, the game is mission based, the two main characters can execute combo attacks during battles.

Broccoli announced they will release a PlayStation 2 version of Galaxy Angels in Japan on April 17, for 6800 yen. The PS2 version will bundle with a mini drama CD not found in the Xbox version.

Banpresto announced another new One Piece title for GameBoy Advance called From TV Animation One Piece Mezase: King of Berry, scheduled to release in Japan this spring. Images can be seen at here

Upcoming Anime Releases

ADV

The Following will be released May 6th.

Sakura Wars Ova Collection

From the press release Combines Sakura Wars, Sakura Wars: Return Of The Spirit Warriors And Sakura Wars: Wedding Bells

ADV Films today announced a May 6, 2003 release date for the Sakura Wars OVA Collection, assembling for the first time all 10 episodes from ADV's three Sakura Wars original video animation (OVA) volumes in one DVD collection for the first time!

Originally created to accompany a video game, Sakura Wars far outstripped its origins, winning legions of fans who have kept close tabs on the continuing saga of the Imperial Flower Combat Troupe's 1920s defense of Japan against demonic invaders, and their subsequent trials and triumphs as part of a musical comedy troupe.

The Collection: Throughout time, tales of the Imperial Flower Combat Troupe have thrilled the world. Now, three of the most popular animated stories ever told: SAKURA WARS, SAKURA WARS: RETURN OF THE SPIRIT WARRIORS, and SAKURA WARS: WEDDING BELLS, have been gathered into one amazing OVA Collection!

Venture into the lives of Sakura Shinguji and the Imperial Flower Combat Troupe as they defend the world from evil. Witness the battle that will shape one girl's destiny and seal the fate of many. Follow the legendary warriors as they struggle with the shadows of their past and the demons of their future. Adventure awaits in this monumental chronicle of SAKURA WARS!

Sakura Wars OVA Collection (SRP $49.98) is a DVD-only collection, including 10 episodes on three discs. Extras include production portfolios, character bios, clean opening and closing animations; production sketches; character bios; original Japanese artwork and promos, ADV Previews and more!

You're Under Arrest! Mini-Specials

From the press release: Lively Police Comedy/Drama, Featuring A Talented, If Mismatched, Pair Of Female Police Officers, TO BE

ADV Films announced a May 6, 2003 release date for You're Under Arrest! Mini-Specials, a DVD-only collection of 20 mini-episodes of the racy, humorous tire-squealing, siren-screaming police adventure series, based on the manga by Kosuke Fujishima, creator of Oh My Goddess!

The story: The mean streets of Tokyo are that much safer when the ladies of Bokuto Police Station are on patrol! When the fun-loving and free-wheeling Natsumi teams up with the mechanical wizard Miyuki, criminals don't stand a chance. From booby-trapped handbags to exhibitionists from beyond the grave to geriatric gearheads, you'll be rolling on the floor with laughter at these 20 mini-episodes. Will they be able to protect their undergarments and co-workers from the depredations of an army of Tokyo's oversexed peeping Toms? Can Natsumi's finances hold out until her next paycheck clears? Chaos ensues and neither speeders nor sneaks stand a chance as Miyuki and Natsumi show that crime doesn't pay!

You're Under Arrest: Mini-Specials ($29.98 SRP) is a DVD-only release, including both English- and Japanese-language versions, and English subtitles. Includes ADV Previews.

About ADV Films:

In 1992, ADV Films (ADV) began to forge the international market for Japanese animation ("anime") by combining unique titles, outstanding production values and efficient large-scale distribution. Today, ADV is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation to the North American market, with the firm's holdings including such premier titles as Spriggan, Sailor Moon, Samurai X, Medabots, Robotech, Gasaraki and Neon Genesis Evangelion. ADV has also expanded into other forms of genre programming, including live-action science fiction programs Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda and Farscape, and classic science fiction such as Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. ADV's corporate parent, A.D. Vision, Inc., publishes Newtype USA, the premiere anime and manga monthly in the English-speaking world, and operates The Anime Network, broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a day. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, with additional offices in the EU and Japan, and distribution on four continents, ADV is fast becoming an international entertainment powerhouse. For more information, visit ADV on the web at http://www.advfilms.com.

Crying Freeman: A Taste Of Revenge, the secpnd volume in the assasin dama .

Zone Of The Enders-Dolores, I: The Enemy Within, the fourth volume in the series based on the robotic combat Playstion game.

Release Date Set For Medabots: A Taste Of Medabots, the ninth volume in the children's series/

Gall Force: Eternal Story, Gall Force 2: Destruction, and Gall Force 3: Stardust War, and Rhea Gall Force will be released on March 11 for $19.99 each, or in a set for $74.99.

The series follows the space war between a race of women (Solenoid), and a race of bio-mechanical (Parnoids). Perfect for geek jokes in a physics OR pysch discussion.

Descendants of Darkness: Devil's Song will also be release March 11th.

From the press release Supernatural detective Tsuzuki is investigating a cursed musician when he himself is possessed by a demon. It's up to his brash young partner to solve the mystery and destroy the curse. before it claims Tsuzuki as its next victim! From the Producer of Evangelion and Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie.

Revolutionary Girl Utena: Darkness Beckoning will likewise be released March 11th. Utena must escape the clutches of a mysterious professor, or she will become a pawn in his next experiment. From the Director of Sailor Moon!

Manga Entertainment

The Rayearth OAV, a re-invisioning of CLAMP's Magic Knights Rayearth will be released on one DVD April 29th.

The delayed Street Fighter DVD boxed set from Manga Entertainment originally scheduled to include the Street Fighter II V TV series and Street Fighter Alpha OAV series for $119.95 has been altered to a simple Street Fighter II V boxed set for $89.95. The set will be available on March 25th.

Lord of the Rings Manga?

From Anime News Network

Mainichi Shimbun reports today that this week's edition of the weekly manga book "Shukan Shonen Magazine" will feature a cover commemorating "The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers done in manga style. This marks only the third time that a western made Hollywood film has been featured on the cover(Terminator 2 & Jurassic Park being the others

Adv Films Announces Launch Of "Mutineer's Moon" Website

From the press release: ADV Films today launched http://www.mutineersmoon.com, a content-rich website offering an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the upcoming title Mutineer's Moon, a 26-episode animated science fiction series currently in production by ADV Films' ADV PRO division. Mutineer's Moon is based on a series of popular science fiction novels by New York Times-bestselling author David Weber. These novels, terrifically successful in their initial release, are soon to be re-released by Baen Books in a special hardcover volume titled Ashes to Empire.

The site: The Mutineer's Moon website includes the story behind the creation of the series; details about the production-in-progress; galleries of character art, concept art, costumes and scene renderings; and a moderated forum, allowing fans to discuss the series and its progress. The site also includes downloadable desktop wallpapers, and will soon include downloadable trailers and customized fonts as well.

The Story: Mutineer's Moon tells the story of Colin McIntyre, an NASA astronaut who, during a routine test flight over the Moon, is drawn down to-and then into-the moon's core. He discovers that the Moon is not a natural satellite of the Earth, but is Dahak: an immense, artificially intelligent alien battle cruiser that has lain dormant for millennia in the wake of a crew mutiny. But now, sensing an impending alien threat, Dahak has reactivated, and has picked McIntyre to be its new captain. Salvation for the Earth will only come if her people are united against the alien invaders, and such unity will only come if McIntyre is able to defeat the mutineers-whose descendents have wreaked havoc on Earth for thousands of years...

hoPro USA Gets New Name and Titles

AWN is reporting that ShoPro USA, Shogakugan's North American licencing & production arm, as well as Viz's sister company, is changing it's name to ShoPro Entertainment. Also, ShoPro Entertainment http://www.shopro-entertainment.com/ plans to shop their two new anime titles Megaman Battle Network and Mirmo Zibang! at next weeks trade show NAPTE in New Orleans.

ShoPro Entertainment has launched their official website. ShoPro Entertainment is a joint venture between Japanese publisher Shogakugan, and Viz LLC/Viz. ShoPro Entertainment has the North & South American rights to Hamtaro, Inuyasha, Mirmo Zibang!, Mega Man, Corrector Yui, Taro the Space Alien, and Doraemon.

FUNimation licenses Sakura Wars

FUNimation is announcing at Ushicon that they have licenced the OVA title Sakura Wars "Sumire Kanzaki Intai Kinen ~ Su Mi Re ~" as well as the three episode OVA Sakura Wars "Ecole de Paris."

Lady Death Update

Carl Macek has stated that ADV's Lady Death movie has completed story board, layout, and backgrounds, and that the animation needs to completed.

Shonen Jump Interviews

Viz's Jason Thompson and John Baroody have done Shonen Jump interviews with Comic Book Resources and Pulse.

As an interesting side note, Thompson says he's working on a comic adaptation of HP Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest Of Unknown Kadath, which sounds like a very ambitious project.